By NNN-KUNA
Islamabad : As President Pervez Musharraf prepared to address the closing session of Pakistani-Afghan peace Jirga in Kabul, military helicopters Saturday launched fresh assault on militants hideouts in North Waziristan tribal agency, bordering Afghanistan.
A military convoy was traveling to Bannu tribal town from Miramshah when it hit an improvised explosive device, said military spokesman Waheed Arshad to reporters.
After the explosion, he said, militants attacked the convoy with automatic weapons. There was an exchange of fire that wounded four, including a soldier.
Cobra helicopters pounded a suspected militant hideout, reportedly killing three militants, he said.
However, security officials told KUNA that nearly ten militants were killed and about five soldiers were wounded in the cross-fire.
The latest attack came as Musharraf was preparing to leave for Kabul to address the closing session of the Peace Jirga.
Meanwhile, an operation has been launched with the help of tribal elders to find 16 soldiers who had gone missing since Thursday in the agency.